Albertans Give Government Thumbs Up For Ending Teachers' Strike
These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid poll conducted between February 21st and February 26th, 2002. The poll is based on a randomly selected sample of 800 adult Albertans. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire population in Alberta been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual provincial population according to the 1996 Census data.
Two-thirds (65%) of Albertans Approve of the Government's Action to End Teachers' Strike by Declaring a Public Emergency
A strong majority (65%) says they approve of the provincial government's action to end the dispute that included declaring a public emergency and thereby requiring teachers to return to the classroom immediately and giving the school boards and the teachers 21 days to reach an agreement. The poll was conducted before the decision of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench that ruled the declaration invalid and the recent negotiations between the province and the Teachers' Association. Almost a majority (46%) says they "strongly approve" of the government's action while another one-in-five (19%) "somewhat approve". In contrast, one-third (34%) disapprove of the government's actions (11% "somewhat disapprove", 23% "strongly disapprove").
- Approval of the government's action is highest in Central (79% approve), Southern (71% approve), and Northern (70% approve) Alberta. Approval is lowest in the cities, where only 58% of Edmontonians and 67% of Calgarians approve of the government's action.
But Albertans are Divided (45% "Likely", 56% "Not Likely") on the Likelihood of Reaching an Agreement Within the 21 Day Period
While Albertans are strongly supportive of the government's actions they are divided over whether the school boards and the teachers will be able to reach an agreement within the 21 day period. A majority (56%) thinks that it is not likely that they will reach an agreement including one-in-five (22%) who say it is "not at all likely" and one-third (34%) who say it is "not very likely". Conversely, more than four in ten (45%) think it is likely that the school boards and the teachers will come to an agreement within 21 days. This includes one-in-ten (10%) who say it is "very likely" and 35% who say it is "somewhat likely".
- Residents of Central Alberta are the most optimistic with 61% saying an agreement within 21 days is likely. Residents of Calgary are the least optimistic with only 37% who say that an agreement is likely.
- Women (48%) are more optimistic than men (40%) when it comes to the likelihood of a settlement.
To view the complete release and tables, please download the attached PDF files.
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For more information on this news release, please contact:
Tim Olafson
Senior Vice- President
Ipsos-Reid
Calgary
(403) 237-0066
